Frequently Asked Questions
Do you offer free shipping?
Yes! We offer free shipping on all orders over $75. Qualifying orders ship via USPS Priority Mail, UPS Ground, or FedEx Ground, depending on the destination and package size.
How Do You Ship? When Will I Receive My Order?
We ship Monday through Friday (excluding U.S. holidays) via USPS Priority Mail, UPS, or FedEx. Once your order ships, you'll receive a confirmation email with tracking information.
Most orders arrive within one week of shipment (slightly longer for Alaska, Hawaii, and Puerto Rico). Overnight orders must be placed by 12:00 p.m. Pacific Time, Monday through Friday, to be eligible for same-day shipping.
Do You Ship Internationally?
Not at this time.
What If My Order Arrives Damaged?
Please photograph the damaged item(s) and email us as soon as possible at shipping@thejapanesepantry.com. We'll work with you to make it right as quickly as possible.
What Is Your Return Policy?
Due to the nature of our products, food items may only be returned if they arrive damaged.
For non-food items (including pottery, kitchenware, and books), please email info@thejapanesepantry.com within 15 days of delivery. Items must be unused and returned in their original, sellable packaging. Please note that sale items are final sale and cannot be returned.
What are "Best By" dates?
Many of our producers assign relatively short Best By dates because they want you to experience their products at peak flavor and quality. These dates indicate when the product is at its best—they are not expiration dates.
Because we import most of our products directly from Japan by sea, several months may pass between production and arrival in the United States. As long as a product has been stored properly, it often remains perfectly enjoyable beyond its Best By date, though you may notice subtle changes such as a mellowing of flavor or a slight darkening of color over time.
How Should I Store My Ingredients?
Recommended storage instructions are listed on each product page and on the English label included with every product.
We stand behind the quality of everything we sell. If any product doesn't meet your expectations, please contact us at shipping@thejapanesepantry.com, and we'll make it right.
What Forms of Payment Do You Accept?
We accept all major credit cards, PayPal, Shop Pay, Apple Pay, Google Pay, and The Japanese Pantry Gift Cards.
How Do I Use a Discount Code or Gift Card?
During checkout, enter your discount code or gift card in the "Gift card or discount code" field and click Apply. This option is available on both desktop and mobile devices.
I'm Sending a Gift. Will Prices Be Included?
No. Prices are never included on our packing slips or anywhere inside the package.
Can I Include a Gift Message?
Yes. During checkout, you'll see a field labeled "Is this a gift? Enter a special message for the recipient here (not for gift cards)." We recommend including your name so the recipient knows who sent the gift.
Do You Have a Retail Store?
No. We are an online retailer only.
How Can I Contact You?
We always enjoy hearing from you. Please send questions, comments, or suggestions to info@thejapanesepantry.com.
Do You Sell to Restaurants and Wholesale Customers?
Yes. We proudly supply restaurants, retailers, and other food service professionals throughout the United States. To learn more or apply for a wholesale account, please visit our Wholesale page.
Want to know more about Proposition 65?
You may notice some of our products include a warning label related to Proposition 65, a 1986 California law that requires that foods and other consumer products carry warnings about cancer and birth defects if the product may cause exposures to certain substances, even at very low, trace levels. We understand these warnings can be alarming. Please know that our products are safe to consume and that we have a rigorous food safety plan that complies with stringent Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulations.
Proposition 65 is controversial because it requires businesses to provide a warning label on products that contain any of over 900 chemicals, even when these chemicals are naturally occurring and found in amounts that are significantly below the FDA and World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines.
For certain products, we are required under California law to include a Proposition 65 warning, since they include ingredients that may contain trace amounts of naturally occurring chemicals such as lead. Our producers do not add lead or other heavy metals to our products. The very low levels found in some products with agricultural ingredients can be the result of natural occurrence from the soil where the ingredients were grown. Virtually all agricultural products (including organically-grown) contain naturally occurring lead and other heavy metals.
Although we are only required to display this warning for sales made to individuals in California, because we distribute nationally and are a relatively small team, we list the warning no matter where the product's final destination is.
If you have any questions about Proposition 65, please visit www.P65Warnings.ca.gov/food or reach out to us anytime. Please note, the absence of a Proposition 65 warning on a similar product sold by another brand does not guarantee the product does not contain or has lower levels of the relevant chemicals.